Post by Victor Adelai on May 29, 2011 19:54:51 GMT -8
The large Ali'i walked slowly towards his inevitable fate. Flanked on his right is the lupus form of his pack and tribe mate Marks-The-Prey. On his left, the now trusted brother of auspice Orion Wyldsblood. They travel in silence, as they have for nearly a week. At night when they rest, there are no tales. No banter, no jokes, no arguing. A somber heavy feel permeates to the bone. Each has their own dilemmas to ponder.
The slight lupus whimpers in his sleep over the fate of his brother, but otherwise wears a brave face. Harano sit on his shoulders like a pale and morbid shroud. Torn between the wicked sorrow for the kin he had lost and the keen awareness that he was about to lose another, his position was not at all enviable.
The heavily built Modi wears a mask of disapproval. He had seen his sister and brother die, fall to Harano, and be carted to a celestial realm. Ally after ally, it seemed, was falling away. And now he was tasked with walking a close friend to his fate. Still, he was silent; talking a warrior out of a matter of honor was a fool's errand. So he suffered in silence.
For his part, the Ali'i embraced his hatred quietly. Rage and contempt merged in a horrible, blaise paste. Thoughts of the council bubble through him. Their betrayal over a dead fera was disgusting. His own packmate had lead the charge. Likely as a show of face to the Caern.
'See?' he could say after this event, 'even my own will kneel before the executioner should it come to that'.
The cost was high, but acceptable he supposed. Only a warrior, alpha, warder and friend. Acceptable. The arrogance of Bear was to blame as well, after a fashion. It had been her words to send him here. And lets blame his honor as well, a less honest Garou could have shrugged off the dishonorable totem's decree with ease. As long as blame was to be assigned, Maya could be put on the top of the list. It was her irritation and continuous defamation of character that had resulted in the duel. Her own ambiguous adherence to ritual combat had necessitated his inclusion of silver. Or Orion, he could certainly be blamed as well. He hadn't ended the challenge when she had wandered off, or struck from ambush or waited nearly an hour before answering his challenge. It could easily be theorized that the challenge had ended numerous times before it ended the final time.
But, if blame was to be assigned the Ali'i wouldn't allow his current situation to be blamed on any save himself. There were none in the Caern capable of inflicting their will upon him, his bloody victory had proven that. None would have raised a hand if he had simply shrugged over the bear's corpse and walked off. None of the council could best him in opened combat, nor a challenge if done by the traditions of their people. None of the other members of the sept would attempt to find absolution in his blood. Not through cowardice, but rather because they understood necessity.
Lightbringer was a necessary evil to them; a shield to shelter behind in times of strife but one that had grown untrustworthy. That, ultimately, was why the Uktena traveled to the closest definition of hell that his people paid credence to. To prove to them that he was reliable and honorable. To prove to himself that his hand hadn't slipped. To restore his prior image; one to be cautious around but not openly feared.
The look of fear in his comrade's eyes had cut more deeply then any blade of the enemy. Their disappointment turned his stomach. For so long he had been rejected from society and peoples and histories. His adoptive family had turned him out. His Tribe had left him to mingle with white men. Humans turned in abject fear. Even Kin worried that he would break them simply because he could. Then to see the sadness in the eyes of his closest friends as the contemptible bear bled her life's blood on the soil of his home... it had been too much. A lifetime in a lake of silver was a small price to pay to restore that. Besides, he hadn't done anything wrong by the standards of the Nation.
The trio entered the cavernous realm of Erebus, the sulphorus fumes stinging eyes, the whispers of its demonic protectors echoing against the stone. The place very much lived up to legend. The Uktena is mildly surprised to find himself there at all. A genuine part of him had expected assassination along the way by Johnny or Vinnie or another of Maya's overzealous friends. Fools, the lot of them, but loyal fools.
They proceed, a low growl emitting from Marks in a continuous rumble. Likely the scout wasn't even aware he made it. Finally, the tunnel breaks into a wide place, the shining silver oubliette larger then he imagined. In the far distance, a palace could be seen. A mild current lapped the shores. The screams of the damned a constant song, testimony to horrors that awaited any who dared to dance under the surface. The prisoners bobbed in the sea, oblivious to any near them, lost in their own pain and misery.
"Come ye here to gamble? Or steal the treasures of the damned?" a surprisingly suave voice sounds from behind them. Marks pivots with grace to do a dancer proud.
Orion lays a large hand on the shoulder of the Ali'i and whispers, "Trust not their words, my friend. They sell sweet lies to all that would listen but know nothing of honor. All they care for is more bodies for the lake."
Lightbringer nods, "Then we have the same goal in mind." Turning his gaze to the demonic creature, a large snarling beast, he speaks once more. "Leave my friends to go, demon. I am here to test your waters as decreed by Bear in penance for my supposed crimes."
Try as he might, the mildly bitter undercurrent of his words still carry through. The demon looks surprised for a second before leaning in and smirking in his red hued way.
"Pride, aye? My favorite of the vices. More float in our home because of it then you will ever realize."
The Uktena nods, curious to hear Johnny's words echoed by the demon creature. "Call it what you will. I am not here for your forgiveness, demon."
The creature barks and laugh and unfolds his hands. "Please, fool, don't let me stop you." It laughs again and leans against the cavern face.
Lightbringer eyes the creature another second, fairly certain he could best the creature if need be. He shrugs and turns to Orion. The Fenrir's eyes are hard, but sad.
"You aren't going to change your mind, are you?" he asks. The Uktena shakes his head slightly. Orion nods, expecting as much. To his credit, he doesn't attempt to talk the fool out of his errand. Instead, the Fenrir wraps meaty arms around him and lifts him clear off the ground in a massive hug. After a second, his feet find purchase again and the Fenrir claps him on the back with enough force to cause a stagger. "We will drink to this when you are free, my friend."
The Ali'i nods, turning to Marks The Prey. He takes a knee to be closer to eye level. "You mustn't return to the sept yet. Enemies will mistake my absence as weakness. You will be targeted, and the blood you spill will bring the Loadbearers only further shame. Do not allow my name to suffer by attempting to stand in this fight. Find our people instead. Our camp. Hunt as you will, my oldest friend, and take that which cannot be held."
The lupus emits a quiet whine, but nods before turning away.
Lightbringer stands, straight as he can muster. He turns and approaches the silver of the lake. The heat of it turns his stomach. Pulling to him the image of Maya, dead at his feet, still he cannot bring himself to regret his actions or mourn her loss. It was necessary, and he could not be convinced otherwise. And so, holding that prideful image in his mind, confident that the lake would not hold him, he runs forward and leaps as far as his legs will carry him. The splash he makes is impressive; the wall of liquid silver rolls in beautiful waves.
The Ali'i would have liked to have been strong enough not to have screamed. He would have liked to know that his will could not be broken by the lake. He would have liked to be so confident as to stand in perdition knowing he had never committed a sin worthy to keep him there.
But, oh, how he was wrong. As the first howl ripped from his lungs, a quiet voice whispers in his mind.
'We have you now, foolish warrior,' it is sweet as honey, soft as velvet, welcoming as a lover. An image rises in his mind and the voice chuckles at his pain. 'This is why we keep you now, alpha of the Load-Bearers, child of Uktena. That is your crime. Suffer now, and see what wisdom you may garner from the experience.'
Another howl pulls from his chest before the currents drag him under. Flesh boils off the bone only to regrow in the same necrotic instant. He fights the current now, filled with hate and regret. The shore grew only further off at his clamoring.
He can see his friends turning, sad and silent, and walking off as the demon laughed and taunted them. The last image the mighty warrior's mind holds before the pain obliterates it forever is that of a smiling, scruffy dog seated next to an overflowing trashcan.
Buddy Ratfriend. That had been the failure worthy of the Lake.
The slight lupus whimpers in his sleep over the fate of his brother, but otherwise wears a brave face. Harano sit on his shoulders like a pale and morbid shroud. Torn between the wicked sorrow for the kin he had lost and the keen awareness that he was about to lose another, his position was not at all enviable.
The heavily built Modi wears a mask of disapproval. He had seen his sister and brother die, fall to Harano, and be carted to a celestial realm. Ally after ally, it seemed, was falling away. And now he was tasked with walking a close friend to his fate. Still, he was silent; talking a warrior out of a matter of honor was a fool's errand. So he suffered in silence.
For his part, the Ali'i embraced his hatred quietly. Rage and contempt merged in a horrible, blaise paste. Thoughts of the council bubble through him. Their betrayal over a dead fera was disgusting. His own packmate had lead the charge. Likely as a show of face to the Caern.
'See?' he could say after this event, 'even my own will kneel before the executioner should it come to that'.
The cost was high, but acceptable he supposed. Only a warrior, alpha, warder and friend. Acceptable. The arrogance of Bear was to blame as well, after a fashion. It had been her words to send him here. And lets blame his honor as well, a less honest Garou could have shrugged off the dishonorable totem's decree with ease. As long as blame was to be assigned, Maya could be put on the top of the list. It was her irritation and continuous defamation of character that had resulted in the duel. Her own ambiguous adherence to ritual combat had necessitated his inclusion of silver. Or Orion, he could certainly be blamed as well. He hadn't ended the challenge when she had wandered off, or struck from ambush or waited nearly an hour before answering his challenge. It could easily be theorized that the challenge had ended numerous times before it ended the final time.
But, if blame was to be assigned the Ali'i wouldn't allow his current situation to be blamed on any save himself. There were none in the Caern capable of inflicting their will upon him, his bloody victory had proven that. None would have raised a hand if he had simply shrugged over the bear's corpse and walked off. None of the council could best him in opened combat, nor a challenge if done by the traditions of their people. None of the other members of the sept would attempt to find absolution in his blood. Not through cowardice, but rather because they understood necessity.
Lightbringer was a necessary evil to them; a shield to shelter behind in times of strife but one that had grown untrustworthy. That, ultimately, was why the Uktena traveled to the closest definition of hell that his people paid credence to. To prove to them that he was reliable and honorable. To prove to himself that his hand hadn't slipped. To restore his prior image; one to be cautious around but not openly feared.
The look of fear in his comrade's eyes had cut more deeply then any blade of the enemy. Their disappointment turned his stomach. For so long he had been rejected from society and peoples and histories. His adoptive family had turned him out. His Tribe had left him to mingle with white men. Humans turned in abject fear. Even Kin worried that he would break them simply because he could. Then to see the sadness in the eyes of his closest friends as the contemptible bear bled her life's blood on the soil of his home... it had been too much. A lifetime in a lake of silver was a small price to pay to restore that. Besides, he hadn't done anything wrong by the standards of the Nation.
The trio entered the cavernous realm of Erebus, the sulphorus fumes stinging eyes, the whispers of its demonic protectors echoing against the stone. The place very much lived up to legend. The Uktena is mildly surprised to find himself there at all. A genuine part of him had expected assassination along the way by Johnny or Vinnie or another of Maya's overzealous friends. Fools, the lot of them, but loyal fools.
They proceed, a low growl emitting from Marks in a continuous rumble. Likely the scout wasn't even aware he made it. Finally, the tunnel breaks into a wide place, the shining silver oubliette larger then he imagined. In the far distance, a palace could be seen. A mild current lapped the shores. The screams of the damned a constant song, testimony to horrors that awaited any who dared to dance under the surface. The prisoners bobbed in the sea, oblivious to any near them, lost in their own pain and misery.
"Come ye here to gamble? Or steal the treasures of the damned?" a surprisingly suave voice sounds from behind them. Marks pivots with grace to do a dancer proud.
Orion lays a large hand on the shoulder of the Ali'i and whispers, "Trust not their words, my friend. They sell sweet lies to all that would listen but know nothing of honor. All they care for is more bodies for the lake."
Lightbringer nods, "Then we have the same goal in mind." Turning his gaze to the demonic creature, a large snarling beast, he speaks once more. "Leave my friends to go, demon. I am here to test your waters as decreed by Bear in penance for my supposed crimes."
Try as he might, the mildly bitter undercurrent of his words still carry through. The demon looks surprised for a second before leaning in and smirking in his red hued way.
"Pride, aye? My favorite of the vices. More float in our home because of it then you will ever realize."
The Uktena nods, curious to hear Johnny's words echoed by the demon creature. "Call it what you will. I am not here for your forgiveness, demon."
The creature barks and laugh and unfolds his hands. "Please, fool, don't let me stop you." It laughs again and leans against the cavern face.
Lightbringer eyes the creature another second, fairly certain he could best the creature if need be. He shrugs and turns to Orion. The Fenrir's eyes are hard, but sad.
"You aren't going to change your mind, are you?" he asks. The Uktena shakes his head slightly. Orion nods, expecting as much. To his credit, he doesn't attempt to talk the fool out of his errand. Instead, the Fenrir wraps meaty arms around him and lifts him clear off the ground in a massive hug. After a second, his feet find purchase again and the Fenrir claps him on the back with enough force to cause a stagger. "We will drink to this when you are free, my friend."
The Ali'i nods, turning to Marks The Prey. He takes a knee to be closer to eye level. "You mustn't return to the sept yet. Enemies will mistake my absence as weakness. You will be targeted, and the blood you spill will bring the Loadbearers only further shame. Do not allow my name to suffer by attempting to stand in this fight. Find our people instead. Our camp. Hunt as you will, my oldest friend, and take that which cannot be held."
The lupus emits a quiet whine, but nods before turning away.
Lightbringer stands, straight as he can muster. He turns and approaches the silver of the lake. The heat of it turns his stomach. Pulling to him the image of Maya, dead at his feet, still he cannot bring himself to regret his actions or mourn her loss. It was necessary, and he could not be convinced otherwise. And so, holding that prideful image in his mind, confident that the lake would not hold him, he runs forward and leaps as far as his legs will carry him. The splash he makes is impressive; the wall of liquid silver rolls in beautiful waves.
The Ali'i would have liked to have been strong enough not to have screamed. He would have liked to know that his will could not be broken by the lake. He would have liked to be so confident as to stand in perdition knowing he had never committed a sin worthy to keep him there.
But, oh, how he was wrong. As the first howl ripped from his lungs, a quiet voice whispers in his mind.
'We have you now, foolish warrior,' it is sweet as honey, soft as velvet, welcoming as a lover. An image rises in his mind and the voice chuckles at his pain. 'This is why we keep you now, alpha of the Load-Bearers, child of Uktena. That is your crime. Suffer now, and see what wisdom you may garner from the experience.'
Another howl pulls from his chest before the currents drag him under. Flesh boils off the bone only to regrow in the same necrotic instant. He fights the current now, filled with hate and regret. The shore grew only further off at his clamoring.
He can see his friends turning, sad and silent, and walking off as the demon laughed and taunted them. The last image the mighty warrior's mind holds before the pain obliterates it forever is that of a smiling, scruffy dog seated next to an overflowing trashcan.
Buddy Ratfriend. That had been the failure worthy of the Lake.